MANILA — The Senate should keep public attention on evidence and the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte instead of allowing conspiracy theories and unverified claims to dominate the discussion, Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said Tuesday.

Acidre, chair of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, made the appeal following the controversy surrounding a video presented by Senator Imee Marcos during a Senate plenary session, which alleged discussions on Charter change (Cha-cha) through a constitutional assembly and purported involvement of former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and House leaders.

The presentation drew criticism from several senators, who described the material as propaganda and fake news.

“At kaya nga ang challenge namin sa Senado, with all due respect sa mga kaibigan namin sa Senado, is dapat sana nakatuon na lang ‘yung attention natin dun sa facts, ‘yung mangyayari sa impeachment trial. Kasi ‘yun naman dapat ang kailangan nating resolbahin sa ngayon,” Acidre said in a televised interview.

“Para kung anumang crisis sa leadership, anumang crisis sa politika ang meron ngayon, masaayos natin on the basis of evidence. Hindi ‘yung tatakutin natin ‘yung tao, hindi kung anu-anong conspiracy theory,” he added.

Acidre said it was concerning that accusations were being made without clear proof, calling the situation a “political fiction.”

“We’re quite frustrated, we’re quite disturbed na in the Senate itself, it has become fashionable to accuse before you present proof,” he said.

“Well, sa totoo lang, tinawag nga namin political fiction. Kasi how else would you call a story that’s basically baseless, that’s being promoted to elicit a certain reaction from the people?” he added.

He also said the alleged narrative linking Charter change discussions to supposed term extension plans for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was irresponsible, stressing that the focus should remain on the ongoing impeachment proceedings.

Acidre said Charter change has not been a topic of discussion in either chamber of Congress, making the allegations questionable.

“Hindi naman napag-uusapan ang Charter change. Not in the House, not in the Senate,” he said.

He urged the Senate to prioritize evidence-based deliberations in the impeachment trial and avoid allowing unverified claims to heighten public tension.

“It does not serve our democracy to have our political atmosphere, our political climate right now, ma-aggravate pa by irresponsible statements by people who are supposed to do our job of calming the people, assuring the people that democracy is strong in this country,” he added.